Galathea tanegashimae Baba, 1969

Botha, Thomas P. A., Griffiths, Charles L., Atkinson, Lara J. & Macpherson, Enrique, 2025, The Galatheidae (Anomura: Galatheoidea) of South Africa, with a description of a new species, Zootaxa 5661 (3), pp. 330-350 : 342

Galathea tanegashimae Baba, 1969

Galathea tanegashimae Baba, 1969: 16 , fig. 4; Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015: 303 , fig. 121D; Macpherson et al., 2023: 383.

Material examined. South Africa, 26°52’54.0”S, 32°55’18.0”E, 49 m, 03/06/1990, SAMC-A094567 , 1 ovig. ♀ 3.9 mm ; South Africa, 27°02’24.0”S, 32°54’54.0”E, 75 m, 06/06/1990, SAMC-A094568 , 1 ♂ 3.7 mm .

Variation. Distal spine on flexor margin of Mxp3 merus is not minute, as stated in the description, but well-developed. Distal spine of basal antennal article is well-developed, almost reaching the end of article 3 and not a short stout spine. Propodi of P2–4 occasionally have 4 spines on extensor margin and not 3.

Global distribution. Japan, Taiwan, South China Sea, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Tasman Sea, Maldives, eastern Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Mayotte Island, Scattered Islands, Mozambique, Madagascar, 0–153 m and now South Africa.

South African distribution. Off Boteler Point, KwaZulu-Natal, 49–75 m ( Fig. 6 ).

Genetic data. Not available for South African specimens .

Remarks. The South African specimens of G. tanegashimae agree well with the original description and represents a small range extension (especially considering the wide scale of the known distribution), as this species is already known in the greater southwestern Indian Ocean region. Often collected from sponges, corals ( Pocillopora spp. ), rocks and sand ( Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia 2015). This species has one of the most extensive distributions in all Galatheidae and exhibits no morphological or genetic differences between localities (see also Rodriguez-Flores et al., 2024). Most similar to G. cf. pubescens in South African waters (see G. cf. pubescens remarks for differences).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Marine ecoregions in South African waters (Sink et al. 2019) with distribution of species in the genus Galathea superimposed.